Use of agro-waste (Musa paradisiaca peels) as a sustainable biosorbent for toxic metal ions removal from contaminated water

A study of removal of heavy metal ions from heavy metal contaminated water using agro-waste was carried out with Musa paradisiaca peels as test adsorbent. The study was carried by adding known quantities of lead (II) ions and cadmium (II) ions each and respectively into specific volume of water and adding specific dose of the test adsorbent into the heavy metal ion solution, and the mixture was agitated for a specific period of time and then the concentration of the metal ion remaining in the solution was determined with Perkin Elmer Atomic absorption spectrophotometer model 2380. The effect of contact time, initial adsorbate concentration, adsorbent dose, pH and temperature were considered. From the effect of contact time results equilibrium concentration was established at 60minutes. The percentage removal of these metal ions studied, were all above 90%. Adsorption and percentage removal of Pb2+ and Cd2+ from their aqueous solutions were affected by change in initial metal ion concentration, adsorbent dose pH and temperature. Adsorption isotherm studies confirmed the adsorption of the metal ions on the test adsorbent with good mathematical fits into Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. Regression correlation (R2) values of the isotherm plots are all positive (>0.9), which suggests too, that the adsorption fitted into the isotherms considered